Etherkin

Corbin, sensing the curiosity of the Etherwalkers, focused his attention inward, using his Inspect skill to reveal more about the fallen Kurok.

As his vision sharpened, he saw beyond the physical realm, into the very essence of Kurok's being.

And there, amidst the swirling chaos of the Void, Corbin saw the truth: Kurok was not an Etherwalker at all, but an Etherkin, a being of pure energy bound to the Void itself.

"Kurok was an Etherkin," Corbin said, his voice low and measured.

"Etherkin," the Etherwalker leader said, the word rolling off his tongue with a hint of awe and apprehension. "I have never heard of such a thing. Tell us, Corbin, what more do you know of these creatures?"

Corbin hesitated for a moment, a glimmer of some hidden knowledge flashing in his eyes.

"The Etherkin are not common knowledge, even in my time, in fact no one knows of their existence except me. "The Etherkin are far more than mere creatures," Corbin continued, his voice taking on a chilling edge. "They are shapeshifters, able to take on any form and slip between dimensions. They can devour the very essence of an Etherwalker, stealing their powers and their life force.

"If Kurok had succeeded in consuming me, he would have grown even more powerful, until nothing could stop him. And if the Etherkin are allied with the Blight, if they can create others like Kurok, then the very fate of this world is at stake." The Etherwalker camp was in ruins, the smell of smoke and ash lingering in the air. Corbin, seeing the devastation, turned to Ember and her people.

"You cannot stay here any longer," he said. "Your camp has been compromised, and the Etherkin will return."

Ember and her brothers exchanged looks, their faces determined but resigned.

"We have lost much," the elder brother said. "But we will not lose our will to fight."

Corbin nodded. "Come with me, then," he said. "Come to Caer Tempest.

The Forest Camp Etherwalkers, their tents and structures in ruins, began to salvage what they could from the wreckage of their home.

They pulled apart the remains of their camp with practiced efficiency, gathering up the broken pieces of technology and the shattered remnants of their defenses.

Corbin watched with admiration as they loaded the salvaged goods into their ships, the sleek, metallic vessels seemingly out of place amidst the chaos of the forest.

"These are impressive," Corbin commented, gesturing towards the ships. Ember nodded, a spark of hope flickering in her eyes. "These ships are our most prized possessions, the remnants of a lost age when humanity reached for the stars. They are powered by something we call the Aetherdrive, a technology that allows us to breach the barriers of space and time."

Corbin's eyes widened with interest. "Aetherdrive... it's similar to the Void, then."

"No, it's not. We just use the energy extraced from aether crystals as the power lasts longer and less dangerous than our previous fusion reactors," Ember said

Corbin turned to the Etherwalkers, a determined look on his face. "Before we leave for Caer Tempest, I want you to search this area for any technology or gold that we can salvage," he said. "Every bit of it could prove useful in our fight against the Blight."

The Etherwalkers nodded, understanding the importance of their mission.

"We will do as you ask," Ember said, her voice filled with resolve. Corbin nodded, his expression stoic and controlled. "We must think of the future," he said, his tone smooth and reassuring. "The Blight will not be defeated overnight, and in order to build the world we want to see, we must gather the resources that will enable us to thrive. The technology and gold we find will be used to fund our efforts, to rebuild and fortify our position against the Blight."

The Etherwalkers, still confused and unaware of Corbin's true motives since gold was no longer valuable, set to work with renewed determination, gathering up every scrap of technology and gold they could find.Despite their confusion, the Etherwalkers trusted Corbin's judgment, and worked tirelessly to salvage whatever they could. Corbin watched their progress with a detached, almost clinical gaze, his mind already turning towards the possibilities of the technology he would acquire.

He knew that the Etherwalkers would be invaluable in his plans. With their knowledge and understanding of the Aetherdrive, he could unlock the secrets of interdimensional travel, opening up a world of opportunity for trade and exploitation. And with their unique abilities as Etherwalkers, they could be the perfect pawns to carry out his will. Of course interdimensioal travel research was his back up plan if he need to evacuate his people. He had the system.and hoped it could at least send him to another world. For now he needed the people of Forest Camp for their strength, technological abilities and other skills.

The ships were roughly the size of small spacecraft, but instead of relying on traditional fuel sources, they were powered by aether crystals, ancient stones that could harness and amplify the power of the Aetherdrive.

The ships were designed with stealth and maneuverability in mind, with advanced sensors and cloaking systems that allowed them to evade the Blighted creatures and other dangers.

They were armed with a variety of weapons, from focused energy beams to plasma missiles, all powered by the aether crystals.

Inside, the ships were cramped and utilitarian, with a minimalistic design that emphasized efficiency over comfort.

The bigger ones were the eclipse ships, 6 of them. The "Eclipse" was a massive Aetherclipper, with a hull plated in thick, dark metal that seemed to absorb light. At 200 meters long and 50 meters wide, it was a fearsome sight to behold, its towering bulk looming over the forest like a shadow of doom.

Inside, the Eclipse was a maze of corridors and chambers, packed with state-of-the-art technology and weaponry. The ship was designed to be a self-sufficient base of operations, with enough room for the entire Etherwalker clan and their supplies. The interior of the Eclipse was a testament to the Etherwalkers' technological prowess and resourcefulness. Every inch of the ship had been meticulously planned and engineered to maximize efficiency and utility.

The living quarters were spartan, with small bunks and storage compartments for each crew member.

The engineering section was a hub of activity, with complex machinery and control panels overseen by Ember's brothers, who were among the most skilled engineers in the clan. In the heart of the Eclipse lay the ship's primary systems: the Aetherdrive, a powerful engine that used rare aether crystals to generate energy, and the Void Shield, an advanced defensive system that could absorb and deflect enemy fire.

The bridge was the command center of the ship, with a large viewscreen that displayed a holographic map of the surrounding area. From here, the captain could oversee the ship's operations and issue orders to the crew. Despite the Eclipse's imposing size and advanced technology, it was still a relatively fragile vessel when compared to the Blighted creatures that roamed the planet.

The crew understood this vulnerability, and they were constantly on alert, always scanning the skies and the forest for signs of danger.

But with Corbin's help, they hoped to turn the tables on their enemies, to strike at the heart of the Blight and save their world from destruction. Once the chaos of the Etherkin attack had subsided and the remnants of the Forest Camp had been salvaged, Ember's brothers finally had the opportunity to properly introduce themselves to Corbin.

"I am Slade," said the elder brother, offering Corbin a firm handshake. Slade was a tall, imposing figure, with a head of thick, dark hair and piercing blue eyes. "I oversee the ship's engineering and propulsion systems. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

The second brother, Callum, stepped forward. Callum was slender and agile, with a lean, sinewy build and a shock of bright red hair. He had a mischievous smile that belied his seriousness as the ship's pilot.

"Greetings," he said, his eyes flashing with curiosity. "I'm the one who keeps us from crashing into things. It's an honor to make your acquaintance, Corbin."

The brothers then gestured to the youngest of their group, a lanky young man with unruly brown hair and intelligent green eyes.

"This is Cael," Slade said, placing a hand on the young man's shoulder. "He's our brother, and one of the most gifted Etherwalkers in the clan. He specializes in offensive powers, though he's still got a lot to learn."

Cael offered a slight bow. "I look forward to learning from you, Corbin," he said,

his voice calm and steady. "We've all heard of your skills as an Etherwalker, and I hope to one day be as powerful as you." Corbin gave a slight nod to each of the brothers in turn, acknowledging their introductions. "It's a pleasure to meet you all," he said. "I'm honored to have the chance to work with such talented and dedicated Etherwalkers."

The brothers exchanged looks, a glimmer of hope and determination in their eyes.

"We are grateful for your help," Slade said, his voice solemn. "We know that our people face a great threat, but with you by our side, we believe that we can prevail."

After long continously talks, Corbin convinced the siblings that they're camp was truly now in ruin and if they hoped for a better future they should accept his invite for them to move to Caer Tempest. With that they agreed and packed every thing they had on their space ships and went to the direction of Corbin's camp.

[2 weeks later]

Kraven approached Corbin, his expression grave but resolute. "My Lord, the defenses of the camp have been strengthened significantly. We have incorporated the latest technology into our fortifications and weaponry, making us well-prepared to defend against any attack." He paused for a moment before continuing. "However, I must inform you that the 350 new recruits, while loyal and eager to fight, are mostly untrained and inexperienced. We will need to ensure that they receive proper training before deploying them into battle."

Saskia, who had been monitoring the Etherwalkers' progress, nodded in agreement. Corbin continued, his gaze steady and focused. "It's clear that we are making progress in our preparations, but we must remain vigilant. The Etherlings are not to be underestimated. I want regular patrols along the perimeter, and I want all defenses to be tested and retested. We cannot afford any weaknesses in our defenses. And the new recruits, while inexperienced, will serve us well if we train them properly. I want you, Kraven, to oversee their training. Ensure that they are ready for battle."

Kraven saluted, his expression hardening with determination.

"Understood, Lord Corbin," Kraven replied, a glint of steel in his eyes. "I'll ensure that our defenses are impenetrable. And regarding the Etherlings, our scouts have reported sightings of small packs roaming the wastelands. While they pose less of a threat than the Etherkin, we cannot underestimate their ferocity. I'll make sure that our patrols are well-prepared for any encounters."

The integration of the newly recruited Etherwalkers with the Etherwalkers that Saskia had previously enlisted was a significant step in solidifying their strength and unity. Under Corbin's leadership, these diverse forces were molded into a single, formidable army, which came to be known as the "Ether Legion."

The name was a symbol of their shared purpose, their dedication to protecting humanity from the Etherkin and their Etherling minions. Under the banner of the Ether Legion, the Etherwalkers would train and fight alongside their non-Etherwalker comrades, united in their cause and united in their resolve.

Beneath the cloak of night, Corbin quietly made his way to the camp's warehouse, slipping silently through the shadows. In his hand, he held a small, glowing crystal, the source of his extraordinary power to access a hidden dimension of space. With a touch of his fingers, the crystal flared to life, and in an instant, a portal opened before him, leading to the vast expanse of his personal dimension.

Within, a massive trove of supplies stood ready to be deployed. The dimension space, a power that Corbin had acquired after merging his video game skills with his Void powers, had become a vital resource in his fight against the Etherlings.

As he stepped through the portal, he could see the vast array of supplies, each neatly organized in their respective sections. Food, medical supplies, ammunition, and more, all waiting to be deployed to the cause of the Ether Legion.

His ability to store and transport these essential resources, seemingly out of thin air, had given his forces a significant advantage over the Etherlings and their masters.

Corbin moved back to office to give his last words, he informed his advisers both Saskia, Kraven along with the new 3 siblings that he will be leaving again and we'll be back in a month or two.